Man arrested after migrants found in lorry in Belgium

A man has been arrested in Northern Ireland as part of an investigation into a crime group suspected of transporting migrants into the UK in the back of lorries.

The National Crime Agency said it follows the discovery of 10 migrants in a lorry carrying a load of tyres near Ghent in Belgium on Thursday.

It’s believed the migrants - two adults and eight juveniles - are from south-east Asia.

Belgian authorities, acting on NCA information, arrested the driver of the vehicle who was a 64-year-old man from Glasgow.

The NCA then arrested two men, Irish nationals aged 39 and 48, in Dover on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

A 30-year-old man was arrested in Co Antrim on Friday.

All three men are in custody being questioned by NCA investigators, while searches have been carried out at properties in Northern Ireland and Kent.

NCA regional head of investigation Gerry McLean said: “Our close working with our Belgian partners in this instance has led to the safeguarding of a number of migrants who had been put in a very dangerous situation, and we are grateful for their support.

“We have seen only recently in Essex the tragic consequences which these types of attempts can have.

“Working with partners at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal immigration, and our investigation into this matter continues.”

West Flanders Prosecutor Frank Demeester added: “This kind of human smuggling is very dangerous, and the operation proves once more that international cooperation works in the fight against this type of organised crime.

“The contacts between the British NCA and Belgian Federal Judicial Police, maritime police and prosecutors have become more intense in recent years.

“In the fight against human smuggling, the UK is obviously an important partner as being the country of destination.”